Department for Transport

Motorway Service Areas

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the price of fuel at motoring service areas; and what steps they will take to ensure motorists are aware of differences in prices.

baroness sugg: The retail fuels market is subject to UK competition law under the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), formerly the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). The Department for Transport has written twice to the CMA setting out our concerns to ensure that motorists benefit from the lower retail fuel prices and better services that can result from competition. We are now working with them to examine whether the use of new technology to increase the transparency of fuel prices can deliver more competitive fuel prices for consumers at motorway forecourts, without compromising safety.

Railways: Concessions

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they issued formal instructions to the Rail Delivery Group to deliver the 26–30 railcard trial; and if so, whether they will publishthose instructions.

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 21 June (HL8450), what role the Department for Transport had, if any, in the conception and delivery of the 26–30 railcard trial.

baroness sugg: The Department for Transport did not issue formal instructions. This was an industry led initiative designed to gather evidence to inform a national roll-out of a 26-30 railcard.

Railways: Concessions

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 21 June (HL8450), why the 26–30 railcard was announced in the Autumn Budget 2017 when the costs and delivery were being borne by the Rail Delivery Group.

baroness sugg: As the 26-30 railcard could soon be incorporated into bids for new franchise competitions, any impact of the card on revenues would then be passed on to the Government. As such, it makes sense for the measure to form part of the Budget announcement. The industry is currently pursuing a trial of the 26-30 railcard. The Government is supportive of this work and will continue to work actively with the industry to monitor the progress of the trial and rollout of the railcard.

Railways: Concessions

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the 26–30 railcard trial on rail fare revenues.

baroness sugg: The Department is monitoring the 26-30 railcard trial closely and analysis of the trial forms part of ongoing discussions between the Government and the Rail Delivery Group. As the trial continues to progress, more data will become available to enable the Department to come to a robust evaluation of its impact on rail fare revenues.

Crossrail 2 Line

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to safeguard Network Rail land while the final route for Crossrail 2 is being considered.

baroness sugg: The Department for Transport safeguarded a section of the proposed Crossrail 2 route in 2015, stretching from Wimbledon to Tottenham Hale. Our current position is not to update safeguarding directions before the outcomes of the Independent Affordability Review, Government agreement to a route, and public consultation on an update to safeguarding directions. We have asked Transport for London and Network Rail to monitor potential development on areas which are not currently safeguarded which they believe might be required in future to deliver Crossrail 2. Officials are regularly updated and we keep the case for safeguarding under constant review to ensure the potential route can be protected in a cost effective manner.

Gospel Oak-Barking Railway Line

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government why the network rail electrification works on the Gospel Oak to Barking line have taken longer than expected, following the original revised completion date.

baroness sugg: Delays to the completion of the Gospel Oak to Barking rail electrification project, delivered by Network Rail, were owing to difficulties in design of the scheme, which led to delays in installation of the new infrastructure. The electrification scheme is now complete and the delay will not impact on the introduction of the new electric rolling stock, which will bring significant benefits to both passengers and lineside neighbours.

Bus Services: Finance

lord snape: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the impact of cuts to local authority funding on the provision of supported bus services.

baroness sugg: Central and local government support for local bus services consists of payments for supported services, Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) and concessionary travel reimbursement (effectively a subsidy to concessionary passengers). In 2016/17, estimated total net support paid in England was £2.21 billion, of which £1.03 billion or 47% was for concessionary travel. In real terms, annual total net support for bus services since 2010/11 has averaged 23% more than in the 1996/97 to 2009/10 period.  Local authorities are best placed to decide how to provide supported bus services, reflecting local needs. The Government encourages local authorities, operators and local communities to work in partnership, and we have seen some excellent examples of how this can drive growth. For instance, bus usage in Bristol has increased by 42% since 2009/10 where there is a collaboration between the local authorities and the local bus operator First Bristol; whilst the Liverpool City Region Bus Alliance – between Merseytravel, Arriva and Stagecoach – has achieved impressive strong patronage growth, with the Alliance reporting that bus journeys made by all paying passengers went up by 16.2 per cent overall in the three years up to Autumn 2017.

Bus Services: Finance

lord snape: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions have taken place between the Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government about cuts to local authority funding and their impact on supported local bus services.

baroness sugg: The Secretary of State for Transport regularly meets with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government where a number of issues are discussed, including funding.

Department for Transport: Reviews

lord watts: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many independent reviews theDepartment for Transporthas commissioned into its policy or administration over the last year; and what was the total cost of those reviews.

baroness sugg: Independent government reviews come in many different forms. Without defining a specific type of review, for example a government funded inquiry, it is not possible to determine an answer. The Department for Transport therefore does not hold this information.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

lord birt: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many houses, premises and plots of land have been requisitioned so far to enable the construction of HS2; and in how many instances the due proportion of the compulsory purchase price was not paid upfront.

baroness sugg: As of 30 June 2018, HS2 Ltd have permanently acquired 170 properties through Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO) and/ or private agreements. A party whose land is compulsorily acquired for HS2 Phase One can make a request for an advance payment at any time. On the basis adequate information is available upon which to assess matters, a payment is due upon the date of possession or three months from the date of request, whichever is later. Alternatively, a payment will be due on the dates/events identified in any private agreement between the parties. There is no requirement for a payment in advance of possession although HS2 Ltd can provide financial assistance up to a value of £250,000 for businesses who require cash-flow support in advance of a compulsory purchase.

Railways: Sunderland

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the feasibility of reinstating direct TransPennine Express services from Sunderland to Manchester Airport and Liverpool Lime Street.

baroness sugg: As part of its franchise obligations, TransPennine Express are required to carry out a Route Strategy Study on network connectivity to Manchester Airport and other regional airports, to be completed by 30 September 2018. Service development recommendations resulting from the study will be considered against other proposals for implementation through the franchise Service Option Scheme Fund. TransPennine Express may recommend other service development proposals at any time during the scheme period.

Railways: Sunderland

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of running direct services from Sunderland to destinations such as Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter and Penzance, as part of the Cross Country franchise.

baroness sugg: As part of the process for letting the next Cross Country franchise competition we have launched a public consultation which ends on the 30th of August. We do ask a specific question on running additional services to new destinations (Question 11). Once all responses are received, we will assess the suggested options.

Sunderland Station

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the redevelopment of buildings at Sunderland Railway Station.

baroness sugg: Network Rail, Nexus and Sunderland County Council are working collaboratively to develop a scheme to improve Sunderland station. We will consider proposals on a case by case basis, based on the economic benefits and business case put forward by local partners.

Road Works

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the review of street works permit schemes being undertaken by Department for Transport will seek to streamline the number of different schemes operating across England and Wales.

baroness sugg: Local highway authorities are empowered to develop and operate a street works permit scheme in line with legislation and guidance. Nearly two thirds of authorities have already done so. The Government would like to see all authorities operate such a scheme as evidence shows they are a much more effective way of managing street and road works on the local road network. We continue to work with local authorities and utility companies on ways to improve the effectiveness and consistency of schemes.

Road Works: Fees and Charges

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether major infrastructure works promoted as part of Government policy, including (1) the roll out of fibre to the premises, (2) major housebuilding programmes, and (3) electric vehicle charging points, will be exempt from lane rental charges.

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government which departments and stakeholder groups will be consulted when approval for new lane rental schemes is sought by local authorities; and what assessment process they will use to determine whether a local authority’s application for a lane rental scheme should be approved.

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what the cap will be on lane rental charges for major works required to install and replace apparatus; what discounts or fee waivers from lane rental charges will be considered for joint works; and how they intend to define joint works.

baroness sugg: The Secretary of State for Transport is authorised to approve lane rental schemes. The Department for Transport announced in February 2018 that it would develop bidding guidance later this year that will set out how we will assess proposals from authorities that want to set up lane rental schemes. It also announced that approval will be subject to certain conditions. These include that authorities must have a well-run permit scheme in place; schemes would apply to an authority’s own works; charges should be used to encourage certain behaviour e.g. more joint works; and schemes should be trialled for a period of time. The announcement also said that caps on lane rental charges should be put in place for major works to install and to replace apparatus so that these works are not unfairly penalised and delayed. Detail will be provided in the bidding guidance. The relevant legislation allows local authorities to charge up to £2,500 per day on the busiest roads at the busiest times. Authorities can offer discounts and waive charges in certain circumstances.

Heathrow Airport: Road Traffic

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made to ensure that no extra airport related road traffic will result from the increase in passenger capacity after the North West Runway is built; whether they intend to make this an legally binding requirement on Heathrow Airport Ltd; and if not, why not.

baroness sugg: The Airports National Policy Statement was designated on 26 July 2018, paving the way for a development consent application from Heathrow. Heathrow airport is already well connected by rail and tube and will benefit from transport improvements which are already in construction or planned, such as Crossrail, HS2 and the proposed Western Rail Link. The Airports National Policy Statement sets out that Heathrow Airport should continue to strive to meet its public pledge to have landside airport-related traffic no greater than today. As part of a Development Consent Application, Heathrow would need to undertake detailed assessments of the impacts of expansion. Only once the detailed assessments have been carried out, can these impacts can be fully assessed. This pledge may become a legally binding requirement as part of the development consent process.

Heathrow Airport: Air Pollution

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the compatibility ofthe planned expansion of Heathrow airport with air quality obligations; and whether Heathrow airport itself, or traffic in the surrounding area, has ever breached existing legal limits on air quality standards.

baroness sugg: We have assessed the impact of the Government’s 2017 UK Plan for Tackling Roadside Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations, and updated aviation demand forecasts, on the Heathrow Northwest Runway scheme’s compliance with air quality limit values. Our analysis helped inform the Government’s view that the Heathrow Northwest Runway scheme can be delivered in compliance with air quality obligations, with a suitable package of policy and mitigation measures. Following designation of the Airports National Policy Statement (NPS), it will now be for the promoter to undertake a detailed assessment of the air quality impacts of the scheme, including during construction, and put forward to the Planning Inspectorate an appropriate package of mitigations that address air quality impacts and demonstrate compliance with air quality obligations. In order to grant development consent, the Secretary of State for Transport would need to be satisfied that, with mitigation, the scheme would be compliant with legal obligations. Heathrow Airport Ltd is situated in the Greater London Urban Area Zone for the purpose of reporting compliance with nitrogen dioxide (NO2) limit values to the European Commission. This Zone is currently non-compliant with (NO2) limits. The 2017 UK Plan for Tackling Roadside Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations sets out how we will achieve compliance in the shortest possible time, supported by a £3.5 billion investment into air quality and cleaner transport.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

lord truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) adequacy, and (2) timeliness of the compensation received by property owners affected by the HS2 project.

baroness sugg: The Government recognises the impact building a project on the scale of HS2 has on people and businesses along the route. It is determined to ensure they are properly compensated in a timely manner and treated with compassion, dignity and respect. That is why the Government introduced an exceptional package of property compensation schemes across the whole route that are generous and comprehensive, and go beyond what is required by law. The schemes will remain in place until one year after HS2 is operational.

Driving: Licensing

viscount waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how manyUK citizens resident in other EU member states, having exchanged their UK driving licences for licences in those states, will need to exchange their current licences for UK licences after the UK’s withdrawal from the EU; and whether those licences will be issued on the same conditions as their original UK licence.

baroness sugg: We do not hold comprehensive data on the number of UK licence holders who exchange their licences for EU licences. The treatment of driving licences is part of wider negotiations and will depend on the outcome of the final deal between UK and the EU. UK citizens who are already resident in another EU member state, can exercise their current right to exchange their UK driving licence for one of the state where they are resident. If they remain resident in the EU after exit, there should be no requirement for the licence holder to then re-exchange their EU licence back to a UK licence. If the licence holder moves back to the UK from the EU and becomes resident, they will be able to re-obtain a UK licence with the same categories, on the basis that they passed their driving test in the UK.

Brakes: Carbon Fibre Composites

lord freyberg: To ask Her Majesty's Government what research has been carried out into carbon fibre particulates released by carbon fibre braking systems used in domestic and motorsports vehicles, and commercial and military aircraft; whether such airborne particulates have properties similar in effect to asbestos fibres; and if there has been no research, whether they will commission a study to look into the long-term consequences on public health of using such materials.

baroness sugg: The Government has not carried out specific research into the carbon fibre particulates released by carbon fibre braking systems used in vehicles or aircraft. The Government will be launching a call for evidence on particulate emissions from tyre and brake wear soon.

Large Goods Vehicles: Taxation

lord morris of aberavon: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much in HGV Levy was paid in 2017 in respect of lorries registered in (1) the Republic of Ireland, and (2) other EU member states; which EU member states lorries subject to the HGV Levy came from in 2017; and how is payment of the Levy enforced.

baroness sugg: In 2017-18, HGV levy revenue from non-UK hauliers was £50m. Of this, approximately £4m was from vehicles registered in the Republic of Ireland, £45m was from vehicles registered in other EU Member States, and £1m was from vehicles registered elsewhere. There were vehicles from all EU Member States paying the HGV levy during 2017-18. The HGV levy is enforced by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Vehicles are stopped at the roadside and, if they have not paid the right levy, the vehicle is held until a fine of £300 is paid. The DVSA targets vehicles that are known not to have paid the levy, and it also checks for levy compliance of vehicles that are stopped for other reasons.

Heathrow Airport

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much theyestimatewill be spent on additional transport links in the South East as a result of the additional traffic created by a third runway at Heathrow; and whether they plan to match such spending with additional investment in transport in the North.

baroness sugg: The Government has been clear that the costs for works on the transport network which are physically needed to enable the Heathrow Northwest Runway scheme to operate will be funded by the promoter, not taxpayers. Government’s policy for funding airport surface access improvements is set out in the 2013 Aviation Policy Framework.

Heathrow Airport

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Civil Aviation Authority's statement that price rises for consumers may be needed to unlock the wider benefits of Heathrow expansion.

baroness sugg: In 2016 the Secretary of State for Transport set out his clear ambition for airport charges to remain close to current levels. Heathrow has recently written to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) reaffirming its commitment to work with airlines to deliver this ambition. In addition, the CAA set out in its April consultation that there are credible scenarios in which expansion can be delivered in line with the Secretary of State’s ambition.

Heathrow Airport

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether population impact estimates for Heathrow expansion will be extended to include air quality impacts beyond the two kilometres analysed currently when Heathrow Airport Limited develops its surface access strategy and mitigation actions on air pollution.

baroness sugg: As part of the development consent process, the applicant will be required to undertake a detailed assessment of the environmental impacts of their scheme, including air quality, and put forward an appropriate package of mitigations. The Airports National Policy Statement makes clear that development consent would not be granted if the Secretary of State for Transport is not satisfied that the scheme would be compatible with air quality obligations.

Heathrow Airport

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they planto contribute to the cost of a third runway should Heathrow Airport Limited be unable to raise the level of investment it anticipates.

baroness sugg: The Government is clear that the Northwest Runway scheme at Heathrow will be financed by the private sector without Government support – and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as the independent economic regulator, has a duty to ensure that Heathrow Airport can finance its airport operations.

Lakeside Energy from Waste

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether theywill ensure that the Lakeside Energy from Waste plant is replaced with facilities of at least the same capacity as now.

baroness sugg: The Government used publicly available data on waste disposal held by the Environment Agency to confirm that the Lakeside energy from waste plant is not a strategic asset and the loss of the capacity can be absorbed. Therefore there is neither a statutory nor a policy reason to mandate replacement of the plant. Nevertheless, the Government understands that Heathrow Airport Limited is currently working with the owners to re-provision the plant.

Air Routes

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to support unprofitable plane routes through enforcement of a Public Service Obligation; and how many routes they anticipate might not be commercially viable.

baroness sugg: We expect the majority of domestic routes from an expanded Heathrow to be commercially viable with support from Heathrow, as many are today. Both easyJet and Flybe have already published indicative routes that they would expect to serve from an expanded Heathrow.If new capacity coupled with the commercial incentives offered by Heathrow does not deliver sufficient domestic connectivity then the Government has committed to ring-fence slots at appropriate times of day, and an exemption from Air Passenger Duty, which can save £26 from a domestic return ticket. All of these measures can be delivered through the use of Public Service Obligations.The Government’s approach to domestic connectivity will be set out in an Aviation Strategy Green Paper, published later this year.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the likelihood that HS2 will go significantly over budget; and whether they will consider using the funds allocated to HS2 to improve existing infrastructure, including railway lines in the north of England, and commuter services.

baroness sugg: HS2 Ltd remain committed to delivering a transformational project for the UK. Each Phase of the HS2 project is subject to ongoing oversight by the Department for Transport and to regular assessment by the Infrastructure Projects Authority (IPA) to assess the likelihood of successful delivery. The IPA recently described the HS2 programme as ‘on target to be completed on time and on budget’. Phase 2a and 2b of HS2 are intended to improve connectivity between Birmingham and the East Midlands, Leeds and Manchester and other destinations in the North of England and Scotland. The Department continues to work with Transport for the North to develop services between destinations in the North of England and with regions across the UK to improve commuter services.

Railways: Overcrowding

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks to passengers from overcrowded trains in hot weather.

baroness sugg: All Train Operator Companies must comply with all relevant health and safety regulations. The Office of Rail and Road monitors and enforces compliance with the health and safety legislation on Britain’s rail network. All passengers are being given hot weather advice announcements and train staff are giving assistance where necessary.

Railways: Ombudsman

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether staff employed in the railway industry will be able to make complaints to the new rail ombudsman.

baroness sugg: The new Rail Ombudsman is being established to investigate and rule on unresolved complaints by passengers. Staff employed in the railway industry will be able to use the Rail Ombudsman if, as a passenger, they are unhappy with the response from the rail company to a complaint about their rail journey.

Cycling

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking, if any, to increase the level of cycling in England.

baroness sugg: The Government’s statutory Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS), published in April 2017, sets out a number of actions to increase the level of cycling, alongside £1.2 billion of funding that may be invested in cycling and walking in England over the period to 2021. Since the publication of the Strategy, the Department has identified additional funding for cycling and walking schemes, including around £77 million of support for schemes via the National Productivity Investment Fund. The Government also announced a new £1.7 billion Transforming Cities Fund in the Autumn Budget which will allow a number of cities to support projects aimed at improving local connectivity by boosting cycling and walking. The Department has commenced a major programme of technical support to help 44 local authorities in England develop their Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs). The Government launched a call for evidence on how to improve safety for cycling and walking in March 2018 as part of the CWIS Safety Review. The Department for Transport is currently assessing over 13,000 responses and will publish its response in due course.

Driving: Licensing

lord kilclooney: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the status of the UK driving licences used in other EU nations after Brexit; and whether this issue has been discussed in the Brexit negotiations.

baroness sugg: The treatment of driving licences will depend on the outcome of the final deal. We are seeking a deal to ensure mutual driving licence recognition after the UK leaves the EU, so that UK driving licences will continue to be recognised as they are today. Such a deal is in the interests of both sides and we have started these discussions. Irrespective of the outcome of our negotiations, our ratification of the 1968 Vienna Convention and 1949 Geneva Convention will ensure that UK licence holders can continue to drive after exit throughout the EU and EEA using an international driving permit document if necessary.

Aviation: Disability

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the report by the Civil Aviation Authority,Airport accessibility report 2016/17, published in 2017, what action they have taken to encourage airports and airlines to reduce waiting times and improve the quality of the assistance provided to disabled passengers at Heathrow and other UK airports.

baroness sugg: The Department for Transport is looking at measures to improve accessibility at airports and on aircraft through our Aviation Strategy which is due to be published in 2019. This will build on the Civil Aviation Authority, Airport accessibility reports, through which the CAA have stepped up their compliance activity and efforts to improve the quality of assistance available for disabled passengers. The CAA is working closely with London Heathrow and other UK airports to support them in their work on implementing improvement plans so that all airports are fully accessible for disabled passengers. In addition, the Department for Transport also launched its Inclusive Transport Strategy today (25 July 2018), which will look to improve accessibility at UK airports in conjunction with the Aviation Strategy.

Heathrow Airport: Noise

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have defined a minimum noise respite for people living in areas thatmay be affected by the proposed expansion of Heathrow Airport.

baroness sugg: The Airports National Policy Statement makes clear that it would be for the applicant to put forward plans for a runway alternation scheme that provides communities with predictable periods of respite. The details of such scheme, including timings, duration and scheduling would be defined through consultation with local communities and relevant stakeholders as part of the planning process. These will then be considered by the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State for Transport in determining any Development Consent Order application.

Govia Thameslink Railway: Timetables

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Sugg on 25 June (HL8516), when the Secretary of State for Transport became aware of problems arising from the Rail Industry Readiness Board's decision to introduce new timetables for Thameslink Railway.

baroness sugg: The Department for Transport received advice from the Rail Industry Readiness Board that a three week transition period for implementing the new timetable would allow for minimal disruption. As few as three weeks before the timetable change Govia Thameslink Railway personally informed the Secretary of State that they were ready.

Electric Vehicles: Bicycles

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of whether the Cycle to Work Scheme can support the uptake of electric bikes by people with mobility problems.

baroness sugg: The Cycle to Work scheme can already be used to assist with the purchase of electrically assisted pedal cycles, and is one of the many ways in which the Government is supporting active travel choices, as set out in the 2017 Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy. The Department for Transport is currently in the process of updating the Cycle to Work Scheme guidance and will make a further announcement later in the year.

Electric Vehicles: Bicycles

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the affordability of electric bikes for (1) vulnerable groups, and (2) people with mobility problems.

baroness sugg: The Department for Transport has not undertaken any detailed assessment of the affordability of electric bikes. However, the Cycle to Work scheme can be used to help with the purchase of electrically assisted pedal cycles, and is one of the many ways in which the Government is supporting active travel choices, as set out in the 2017 Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy. The Department for Transport is currently in the process of updating the Cycle to Work Scheme guidance and will make a further announcement later in the year.

Electric Vehicles: Bicycles

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of a whether a higher uptake of electric bikes through the Cycle to Work Scheme would have any impact on public finances.

baroness sugg: The Cycle to Work Scheme can be used to assist with the purchase of electrically assisted pedal cycles, and is one of the many ways in which the Government is supporting increased uptake in cycling, as set out in the 2017 Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy. The Government has not undertaken any detailed assessment of the impact of a higher uptake of electric bikes through the Cycle to Work Scheme on public finances.

Electric Vehicles: Bicycles

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of (1) salary sacrifice mechanisms, and (2) the Cycle to Work Scheme in increasing the uptake of electric bikes through those schemes.

baroness sugg: The Department for Transport has not undertaken any detailed assessment of the impact of (1) salary sacrifice mechanisms, and (2) the Cycle to Work Scheme in increasing the uptake of electric bikes through those schemes.The Cycle to Work scheme can already be used to assist the purchase of electrically assisted pedal cycles, and is one of the many ways in which the Government is supporting active travel choices, as set out in the 2017 Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy. The Department for Transport is currently in the process of updating the Cycle to Work Scheme guidance and will make a further announcement later in the year.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Fire Resistant Materials

the countess of mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the study by the University of Central Lancashire,Flame retardants in UK furniture increase smoke toxicity more than they reduce fire growth rate,published in April; whether they have consulted with their Chief Scientist in forming that assessment; and whether, following that study, they intend to reconsider the efficacy of current flame retardants.

lord henley: The Department welcomes the paper by University of Central Lancashire and it forms part of the evidence we are considering in reviewing the legislation regulating the safety of furniture.

Fire Resistant Materials

the countess of mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government why products labelled flame resistant do not contain details of the chemicals usedin them.

lord henley: All products must be safe before they can be placed on the UK market. While there is no legal requirement for products labelled flame resistant to contain details of chemicals used in them, manufacturers may voluntarily provide any further details that would be helpful to their consumers.

Fire Resistant Materials

the countess of mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government whom the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy consults for advice about the health and environmental effects of flame retardants; and whether that Department will make its final policy decisions about flame retardants available for scrutiny.

lord henley: The Department works with experts across government including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Public Health England, the Food Standards Agency and the Fire Services. We also consider the latest scientific research from academia. Any proposals for legislative change will be subject to public consultation.

Fire Resistant Materials

the countess of mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is taking to promote innovation and market uptake of flame-resistant chemical-free materials such as mixtures of wool and cotton.

lord henley: The Department welcomes any innovative approaches that deliver consumer safety and comply with existing fire safety regulations, including methods which do not use flame retardants.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

USA: Refugees

baroness kinnock of holyhead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of the United Statesto press for the reuniting of refugee children with their parentsfrom whom they have been separated at the United States border in recent months.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Prime Minister was clear that the separation of children from their parents at the border was disturbing and wrong. President Trump has now signed an Executive Order aimed at ending the separation policy and US authorities are in the process of implementing this change. Of course, we hope the children will soon be reunited with their families.

Turkey: Detainees

lord balfe: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 9 July (HL9056), how many cases of detention in Turkey they have made representations about so far this year; and to give the details for each such instance.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: It is not our policy to reveal all details of private meetings with foreign officials. As I said previously, we have raised a number of cases, including those of the civil society representatives known as the Istanbul 10.

Department of Health and Social Care

Liothyronine

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will commission research on the impact of the withdrawal of liothyronine (T3) and its subsequent replacement with T4 on (1) the health and well being of patients, and (2) the cost to the NHS.

lord o'shaughnessy: The Department has no plans to commission such research. NHS England will continue to monitor the implementation of the guidance Items which should not be routinely prescribed in primary care: guidance for CCGs published in November 2017 and will review it at regular intervals to address any unintended consequences. A copy of the guidance is attached. NHS Clinical Commissioners will reiterate to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) by the end of July 2018 that the intention of the guidance was to end the routine prescription of liothyronine only where it was clinically appropriate to do so.



Items which should not be routinely prescribed
(PDF Document, 607.85 KB)

Gambling: Mental Health

lord chadlington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of thecase for additional research to be undertaken about the residual neurological impact of rapid highs and lows from gambling, particularly in connection with the long-term effects on mental health.

lord o'shaughnessy: There are currently no plans to undertake research about the residual neurological impact of rapid highs and lows from gambling, particularly in connection with the long-term effects on mental health. However the Public Health Research programme, part of the National Institute for Health Research, is commissioning research on the effectiveness of interventions to prevent or reduce problem gambling. The deadline for applications to undertake this research was 24 July.

Community Nurses

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to address the impact of the reduction in the number of district nurses in England from 7,700 in 2010 to 4,400 in 2018, as reported by NHS Digital.

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on patient safety and wellbeing of the falling numbers of district nurses in England reported by NHS Digital.

lord o'shaughnessy: Community health services play a crucial role in keeping people living healthier for longer through proactively managing health in a setting where patients feel most comfortable. Having the right workforce is fundamental to ensure this can happen and the Government acknowledges the challenge of meeting increased demand for care from community nurses. NHS Digital’s data, which is drawn from the Electronic Staff Record, shows a drop in the number of full-time equivalent district nurses across the National Health Service. However, because of changes, made in 2009, to the way that community health services are commissioned – i.e. to a range of different types of provider – this does not represent the full picture and there will be many district nurses providing NHS funded services in organisations that do not provide a return to the Electronic Staff Record. However, we are not complacent, which is why we are increasing the supply of registered nurses to meet the growth in demand and have announced additional clinical placement funding that will enable around 5,000 more nursing students to enter training each year from September 2018. This is a historic increase. We are committed to developing and supporting the wellbeing of the whole community workforce to deliver safe, quality patient-centred care. Health Education England is currently considering how to further support the community nursing workforce.

Community Nurses

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the financial challengesfaced bynurses in England where they take a reduction in salary for the duration of the one-year education programme to qualify as a district nurse.

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to reduce any impact on patient care resulting from the absence of funding to backfill a post when a registered nurse in the district nursing team undertakesa year-long programme of education in order to qualify as a district nurse.

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the letter sent on 22 Juneby Dr Bob Brown, Trustee of the Queen’s Nursing Institute and chair the Community Nurse Executive Network, to Health Education England, which highlighted the lack of funding from Health Education England to support district nurse education after September.

lord o'shaughnessy: Community health services play a crucial role in keeping people living healthier for longer through proactively managing health in a setting where patients feel most comfortable. Having the right workforce is fundamental to ensure this can happen and the Government acknowledges the challenge of meeting increased demand for care from community nurses.We want to do more to support nurses, including those facing financial difficulty, who undertake the one-year education programme to qualify as a district nurse. On 9 May 2018, the Minister of State for Health (Stephen Barclay) announced that some postgraduate students starting district nursing courses will be eligible to receive up to £10,000 as a 'golden hello’. The Government announced £10 million to support this and we are currently considering how this is best delivered on the ground. Health Education England has agreed to provide funding for all community nursing specialist practice qualifications until 2020. In addition to this, we are expanding routes into district nursing by developing an apprenticeship.Employers across the National Health Service are responsible for rostering their staff effectively, including providing cover for staff who are on training, to ensure they can deliver excellent patient care. Health Education England is currently considering how to further support the community nursing workforce.Health Education England has advised they are grateful to Dr Bob Brown, Queen’s Nursing Institute, for raising his concerns regarding the future development of the district nurse workforce. A full written response to Dr Brown’s letter is being sent imminently.

Home Care Services: Pay

baroness gardner of parkes: To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they provide to local authorities regarding the paymentfor travel time to carers travelling between clients; and whether local authorities are required to check if any external contractors they use to provide caring services are paying those costs.

lord o'shaughnessy: The Government provides online guidance on the steps employers and others must take to comply with the National Minimum Wage, which states that the hours of work that count for minimum wage purposes include any time when a worker is travelling from one work assignment to another.The Government is clear that local authorities should have regard to the cost of care when setting prices. This is set out in the statutory guidance to the Care Act 2014. In 2016 the Department worked with local government, the care sector and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy to produce a guide to understanding providers’ costs and fair fees – this was published in January 2017. A copy of Working with care providers to understand costs: A guide for adult social care commissioners is attached.



Working with care providers to understand costs
(PDF Document, 640.64 KB)

PrescQIPP

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the accuracy of the information provided by PrescQIPP to Clinical Commissioning Groups to aid their commissioning decisions.

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the advice provided by PresQIPP to Clinical Commissioning Groups is consistent with national guidelines on the prescription of Liothryonine (T3) to NHS patients.

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assurances they have received from PresQIPP that when providing guidance to Clinical Commissioning Groups on commissioning decisions it has taken the views of patient stakeholders into account.

lord o'shaughnessy: We have not made any assessment on the accuracy and advice provided by PrescQIPP. Nor have we made any assessment on whether the advice provided by PrescQIPP to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) is consistent with national guidelines on the prescription of liothyronine to National Health Service patients. We can confirm that we have not received any assurances from PrescQIPP on whether or not it has taken patient stakeholder views into account as it is the responsibility of CCGs to seek any such assurances.PrescQIPP is an independent social enterprise and it is for CCGs to decide whether and how they take that guidance into account when making decisions. However, NHS England expects CCGs to have due regard to the guidance Items which should not routinely be prescribed in primary care: Guidance for CCGs, published in November 2017 by NHS England and NHS Clinical Commissioners when considering the prescribing of liothyronine. A copy of the guidance is attached.



Items which should not routinely be prescribed
(PDF Document, 607.85 KB)

General Practitioners: Insurance

lord mawson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the difference in the insurance premium paid by GPs in England and Scotland; and whatassessment they have made of the reasons for such difference.

lord o'shaughnessy: General practitioners (GPs) are required to have adequate and appropriate indemnity or insurance arrangements to cover clinical negligence liabilities.We do not have data showing the difference on insurance premiums, which are a very small proportion of the market in England. The Department is aware that there is a difference in the cost of clinical negligence indemnity subscriptions paid by GPs in England and Scotland. No assessment has been made for the reasons for such difference.Health is a devolved matter and it is for the devolved administrations to make their own decisions about health policies in their own territories.

Department for International Development

Syria: Internally Displaced People

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they have about people displaced in Deraa Province, Syria who are refused access into Jordan; what assessment they have made of the number of such people; and what steps they are taking to help meet their needs for shelter and subsistence.

lord bates: The offensive by the Assad regime and its backers on the southwest of Syria has had a devastating impact on civilians. Over 250,000 people have reportedly been displaced so far, some of them multiple times. Of these, an estimated 160,000 civilians have now returned home.DFID-funded partners, including the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross, are providing the most vulnerable people in the southwest, including those in Deraa province, with water, basic shelter materials, hygiene items and cash grants, where and when access allows.

Department for Education

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

lord ouseley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies that school funding per pupil in England has fallen by 8 per cent since 2009–10; and what are the implications for children's education of such a reduction.

lord agnew of oulton: The Institute for Fiscal Studies' (IFS) most recent analysis takes account of spending on pupils aged three to five and 16 to 19, and spending on education by local authorities.The research recently published by the IFS extends their previously published analysis on funding for pupils aged five to 16, and is fully consistent with that analysis. The IFS have confirmed that per-pupil funding for pupils up to 16 will be more than 50% higher in 2020 than in 2000.The results of this investment can be seen in the success of the education system. There are 1.9 million more children studying in good or outstanding schools since 2010, and the 2017 phonics screening check shows that there are now 154,000 more six year olds were on track to be fluent readers than in 2012. The gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers, measured by the department’s attainment gap index, has narrowed by 10.5% at key stage 2 and 10% at key stage 4 since 2011, the year the pupil premium was introduced. This means better prospects for a more prosperous life as an adult for disadvantaged pupils.The government has prioritised pre-16 schooling because of its crucial importance to pupil progression. The funding rate for 16 to 19 year olds was also protected, in cash terms, in the 2015 spending review and additional funding has been made available to help schools and colleges with particular priorities. As announced last year, additional funding is being provided to support institutions to increase participation in level 3 mathematics (an extra £600 for every additional student), and to pilot extra support for post-16 basic mathematics.By 2019-20 the government will be spending around £1 billion a year to deliver 30 hours of free childcare and fund the increase in funding rates for the free entitlements that we introduced in April 2017.

Apprentices: Small Businesses

lord ouseley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have received about the Education and Skills Agency considering bids with minimum contract award limits for the training of apprenticeships for small and medium-sized employers who are non-levy payers; and how they are responding to such representations.

lord agnew of oulton: A minimum contract value was set for awards under the non-levy apprenticeship procurement, which we concluded in December 2017. Following notification of initial award, we received 29 complaints from providers that were unsuccessful due to the application of the minimum contract value. The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) referred these providers back to the specific elements of the invitation to tender that explain the reasons for the application of the minimum contract level, as well as the process that was used to do so (attached). The ESFA directed them to guidance on the use of sub-contracting and levy transfers as further ways of supporting non-levy payer access to apprenticeship training.



Invitation_to_tender_for_apprenticeship_delivery
(PDF Document, 542.5 KB)

Children: Obesity

lord brooke of alverthorpe: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the role of the designated senior lead on mental health in schools will cover child obesity.

lord agnew of oulton: It will be for schools to decide whether to put a designated senior lead for mental health in place and what responsibilities they should cover. The Government is not introducing new responsibilities and is not planning to stipulate what the role should be. The ‘Supporting Mental Health in Schools and Colleges’ survey published in 2017 suggested that around half of schools already have a mental health lead in place. The Government will provide all schools with the opportunity to train a lead in how to put in place a whole school approach to mental health. Given the links between obesity and both physical and mental health, whole school approaches can include activity to tackle obesity such as that set out by the Government in the attached document, ‘Childhood obesity: a plan for action’. The qualitative research accompanying the survey indicates that some schools already include both physical and mental health in such approaches, and make links to the teaching of personal, social, health and economic education. On 19 July, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State launched a consultation on proposals to make health education compulsory in schools. Under these proposals pupils will be taught about the benefits of a healthier lifestyle for both their physical and mental wellbeing. We expect that many schools will choose to make the teaching of health education part of a whole school approach to mental health overseen by a designated senior lead.



HL9686_Childhood_obesity_a_plan_for_action
(PDF Document, 544.48 KB)

Enterprise Advisers

baroness garden of frognal: To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial arrangements the Careers and Enterprise Company have made for the expansion of Enterprise Adviser Networks.

lord agnew of oulton: The Enterprise Adviser Network is expanding. Since its launch by The Careers and Enterprise Company in 2015, over 2,000 Enterprise Advisers have signed up to the network, and 1,700 of these are already working with schools and colleges to support their careers and enterprise provision. As part of the government’s careers strategy, all schools and colleges will have access to an Enterprise Adviser by the end of 2020. Enterprise Advisers are senior volunteers from the world of work and are unpaid for this role. However, the department will be providing grant funding to The Careers and Enterprise Company to expand the Enterprise Adviser Network in line with the ambition in the strategy by, for example, recruiting and training volunteers from business.

School Meals: Meat

baroness hodgson of abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Agnew of Oulton on 29 July (HL9377), what plans they have to ensure that parents of children at state schools who do not wish their children to eat meat from animals that have not been pre-stunned prior to slaughter have the same ability to identify such meat as those who wish their children to eat meat slaughtered using Halal and Shechita methods.

lord agnew of oulton: I refer the noble Lady to the answer I gave on 20 July 2018 to HL9377.However, we have noted the noble Lady’s points on this issue and will monitor the situation.

Ministry of Justice

Prison Officers

lord beecham: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prison officers were in post on 1 January 2017 in (1) prisons managed by HM Prison Service, and (2) prisons managed by contractors; and how many of thosein each category are still in post.

lord keen of elie: On 31 December 2016 (the closest data point available) there were 17,687¹ prison officers in bands 3 to 5 in post in public sector prisons in England and Wales. Of these, 15,1702 were still in post on 31 March 2018.The latest Information on prison staffing levels can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/her-majestys-prison-and-probation-service-workforce-quarterly-march-2018.There are no comparable figures for privately managed prisons. The provision of management information relating to the number of officers in privately managed prisons is not a contractual requirement. Private providers continue to play an important role in the prison estate providing safe, decent and secure services, in line with HMPPS performance standards.1 Excludes band 3-5 officers who are based in HQ and area services. These are band 3 to 5 officers who have not been allocated to a prison and are mainly officers who are on detached duty with no fixed location or are POELT trainers. It may also include a few staff redeploying from closing establishments who are allocated to an area office in the HR database before being reallocated to a prison in the database.2 This includes staff who may have left and returned at any point after 31 December 2016 and before 31 March 2018, and therefore may not reflect continuous service.

Prison Officers: Termination of Employment

lord beecham: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prison officers have left HM Prison Service in each of the last three years for reasons other than reaching retirement age.

lord keen of elie: The number of band 3-5 prison officers who have left HM Prison Service by reason for leaving in each of the last three years is presented in table 1 below. This information can also be found in table 11b in the latest set of HMPPS workforce statistics at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/her-majestys-prison-and-probation-service-workforce-quarterly-march-2018. Table 1: Band 3-5 prison officer leavers (headcount), by reason for leaving, 12 months ending 31 March 2016 to 12 months ending 31 March 2018   HeadcountReason for leaving12 months ending 31 Mar 201612 months ending 31 Mar 201712 months ending 31 Mar 2018Resignation5968591,244Medical retirement150142109Death141523Voluntary Exit1~~~Voluntary Redundancy~~~Compulsory Redundancy~~~Dismissal Other44480Dismissal - Conduct645761Dismissal - Poor performance866Dismissal - Unsatisfactory attendance/Medical Inefficiency2324330151Transfer to other Government dept.385872Public sector transfer3~3~Other4593943Total (excl. retirements)1,2581,5531,791Retirements286281297All band 3-5 officer leavers1,5441,8342,088 1 This can be offered where the organisation wishes to reduce staff numbers by offering an early exit scheme or an early exit package to an individual. There is no compulsion on individuals to accept the offer.2 Since January 2017, information regarding dismissals as a result of medical inefficiencies have been recorded as unsatisfactory attendances. Therefore, these categories have been combined.3 Public sector transfers include healthcare staff transferring to NHS employment. These staff continue to work within establishments but under a different employer.4 The 'Other' category largely consists of fixed-term appointments coming to the end of their contract. Reductions in this category reflect the fall in recruitment since 2009, including fixed-term staff. ~ denotes suppressed values of 2 or fewer or other values which would allow values of 2 or fewer to be derived by subtraction. Low numbers are suppressed to prevent disclosure in accordance with the Data Protection Act, 1998.

Pornography: Children

baroness howe of idlicote: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) prosecutions, and (2) convictions have been made under section 62 of the Coroner and Justice Act 2009 in the last five financial years.

lord keen of elie: The number of prosecutions and convictions under section 62 of the Coroner and Justice Act 2009 for the financial years from 2012/13 to 2016/17 can be found in the table below. Number of prosecutions and convictions under Section 62 of the Coroner and Justice Act 2009, possession of prohibited image of a child, 2012/13 to 2016/17   2012/132013/142014/152015/162016/17Prosecutions1817182440Convictions147112753A defendant who appears before both magistrates’ court and Crown Court may not do so within the same year, meaning for a given year convictions may exceed prosecutions or sentences may not equal convictions. Defendants who appear before both courts may be convicted at the Crown Court for a different offence to that for which they were originally proceeded against at magistrates’ court.

Prisons and Young Offender Institutions: Inspections

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to help prisons and young offender institutions implement the recommendations of inspection reports.

lord keen of elie: Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has given a commitment to improve the implementation of action plans that address the agreed recommendations in HMI Prisons inspection reports.The Operational and System Assurance Group (OSAG) established last year, works with prisons to agree, submit and publish their action plan following an HMI Prisons inspection report. OSAG assesses progress against the agreed action plans in establishments of concern, such as those subject to the Urgent Notification process.HMPPS have introduced new management structures including Prison Group Directors and Executive Directors. They will be responsible for ensuring that assessments are made on progress against implementation of HMI Prisons recommendations for those establishments not assessed by OSAG.Prison Group Directors provide oversight and additional support, as required, to prisons. Depending on the recommendation, specialist support will be provided from the Safety Team and wider Prison Improvement programme. The Youth Custody Service has its own arrangements in place to support establishments in meeting recommendations from HMIP inspection reports. We recognise the important role played by Inspectors and we are grateful for their recommendations. The Prisons Minister has agreed funding for HMIP to carry out follow-up inspections in the most serious cases. The Chief Inspector has welcomed this in his report.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Rural Areas: Crime

baroness mcintosh of pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to tacklerural crimes such as hare coursing and fly-tipping.

lord gardiner of kimble: We recognise that local police forces are taking steps to address hare coursing and associated crimes and that this is an operational matter for the police. The role of locally elected Police and Crime Commissioners is to hold their forces to account, including on how they tackle the crimes that matter most to residents and businesses.   The government is committed to tackling fly-tipping in rural and urban areas. Local authorities and the Environment Agency have a wide range of enforcement powers to tackle fly-tipping and we have recently strengthened these. In 2016 we gave local authorities the power to issue fixed penalty notices for small scale fly-tipping and enhanced the local authorities and Environment Agency’s ability to search and seize the vehicles of suspected fly-tippers. We recently consulted on the power to issue fixed penalty notices to householders who fail in their duty of care and pass their waste to fly-tippers. Two thirds of fly-tips incidents involve household waste so this will help address the main source of the crime. Subject to parliamentary approval this new power will be available to local authorities and the Environment Agency later this year.

Tree Felling: Licensing

lord clark of windermere: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many felling licences have been issued by Forestry Commission England in each quarter since 2015; and how many hectares those licences cover.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Forestry Commission’s record of the number of felling licences granted and the area of land these covered from 2015 to date is reproduced in the table below.   PeriodNumber of Licences grantedArea of land covered (hectares)2015  Q1 (Jan - March)5985083Q2 (April - June)5234990Q3 (July - Sept)5626384Q4 (Oct - Dec)61173982016  Q1 (Jan - March)57417040Q2 (April - June)60313036Q3 (July - Sept)88013329Q4 (Oct - Dec)681147952017  Q1 (Jan - March)94219665Q2 (April - June)78715132Q3 (July - Sept)79923448Q4 (Oct - Dec)687138982018  Q1 (Jan - March)69414526Q2 (April - June)66913043   The above table does not include felling approved on the Public Forest Estate which is exempt from the requirement for a licence or felling approved in legacy English Woodland Grant Schemes.

Rivers: Chilterns

lord stevenson of balmacara: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have plans to take urgent steps to tackle drought, abstraction and pollution relating to the Chilterns Chalk Streams; and whether any such steps will involve putting OFWAT's voluntary abstraction incentive mechanism on a statutory basis.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Environment Agency is working with partners to protect and restore the Chilterns Chalk Streams. Where investigations have shown that levels of abstraction are unsustainable, the Agency works with Affinity Water to reduce pumping.   Since 2016, abstraction for drinking water has been reduced on 5 Chilterns Chalk Streams with further reductions planned by 2025. This will mean that up to 70 million litres of water per day will be kept in the natural environment, improving flows and making the rivers more resilient to drought and periods of prolonged dry weather.   The Government’s strategic policy statement sets a clear objective for Ofwat to challenge companies to further the resilience of ecosystems that underpin water and wastewater systems. We expect Ofwat to challenge business plans that are weak on ecosystem resilience, including their abstraction incentive mechanism (AIM) proposals. From 2016/17, companies are required to report annually on their AIM performance. From 2020, companies will have stronger, financial incentives to improve their AIM performance or risk incurring financial penalties.

Home Office

Pornography: Children

baroness howe of idlicote: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the response of the National Crime Agency to the evidence submitted to it by The Times in April 2017 concerningFacebook hosting illegal non-photographic child sex abuse images.

baroness williams of trafford: The NCA received information from the Times and assessed it for potential evidence relating to child sexual abuse, as it would with a report of child sexual abuse material from any source.This resulted in safeguarding action taken in respect of identified children..

Department for Exiting the European Union

Brexit: White Papers

lord tebbit: To ask Her Majesty's Government at what time the White PaperThe Future Relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union (Cm 9593) was made available to (1) Members of the House of Lords, (2) Members of the House of Commons, (3) the BBC, (4) the EU, and (5) heads of other governments.

lord callanan: The White Paper on the Future Relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union was published on the GOV.UK website and shared in a letter to the Chairs of the European Union Committee and the Commons Exiting the European Union and European Scrutiny Committees at the moment the Secretary of State stood up to make his statement. Copies of the White Paper were put in the libraries of both Houses at 0930 on 12 July but due to an administrative error, the White Paper was not distributed to Members of the House of Commons ahead of the debate. There was no intent on the Government’s part to withhold information from the House and the Secretary of State has apologised for this oversight.

Women and Equalities

Government Equalities Office: Reviews

lord watts: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many independent reviews the Government Equalities Office has commissioned into its policy or administration over the last year; and what was the total cost of those reviews.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government Equalities Office does not hold this information

Employment: Discrimination

baroness thomas of winchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether consideration has been given to amending the Equality Act 2010 so that employees who experience one off or recurring health conditions lasting less than 12 months are protected by that Act’s provisions.

baroness williams of trafford: The Equality Act 2010 provides protection from discrimination for those that meet the definition of one or more of the protected characteristics covered by the Act and this includes conditions that might last less than 12 months but are likely to recur. We recognise that there are concerns that the protections offered by the Act may not be available to people with fluctuating mental health conditions, and this is one of the issues the Government is considering in its work on extending protection for those with mental health disorders. However, the Act is intended to provide protections from discrimination for employees who qualify as disabled, rather than general employment protection for those who experience episodes of ill health. A number of important statutory employment rights already apply to all workers as soon as they start work or once they have passed a qualifying period, including protection against unlawful deductions from wages and against unfair dismissal. This includes protection from unlawful sanctions by employers for legitimate sickness absences. Amending the Act in the way raised in the Question would therefore risk duplicating these existing protections, as well as significantly increasing the scope of the Act beyond its protection of disability.